HARDWOOD RECORD 



Tlio ('ill- slii.rtage continups li> inlerfeio with 

 a fi'ce moVL'iiH'iit of stocks, but less trouble is 

 experioncod 'in this account along the northern 

 railroads than down South. As a rule, it is 

 possihli- to meet at least the more urgent wants, 

 and thcM-e is no such cmbarso upon the freight 

 movement ,ts would cause serious embarrassment. 

 Of course, the possibilit.v that a shipment may 

 fail to reach its destination in a reasonable 

 time stimulates the interest in supplies, and the 

 .yards as w^ell as other buyers are placing orders 

 with sufHcient freedom to allow for delays. The 

 quotations on oak are probably as high as they 

 have been at any previous time, and the demands 

 upon the mills are such as to keep all the plants 

 busy. So iM'isk is the movement as to affect 

 every kind of lumber in general use. 



The interest on the other side of the Atlantic 

 is attested by the arrival of a number of repre- 

 sentatives of foreign firms in search of supplies. 

 The ocean freight situation is becoming better. 

 In addition to the Atlantic Transport Line most 

 of the others have now announced their rates, 

 but these mark such an advance over the current 

 figures that exporters hesitate about binding 

 themselves for the whole of 1913. Some of them 

 prefer to take chances, making such shipments 

 at the prevailing rates as they must and hoping 

 that the companies will find it impossible to 

 maintain the range put out. With the exception 

 of the high ocean freight rates and the car 

 shortage, the hardwood trade has nothing to 

 eomplain of, being active in all of its branches 

 and presenting a most favorable prospect. 



COLUMBUS 



Dealers throughout central Ohio report a good 

 demand in all varieties of hardwoods and a con- 

 tinuation of the firmness iu prices. Building 

 operations continue active. Oak is especially 

 strong and is advancing steadily. The demand 

 seems to center principally in the quartered. 

 Dry stocks are scarce, and hence all hardwoods 

 are moving better. The car shortage still con- 

 tinues, hut has improved somewhat over the 

 past week. Buyers do not seem satisfied to buy 

 in large quantities until the shortage is better. 

 Red oak and plain oak are in good demand and 

 prices are going up. Ash is advancing and is 

 particularly strong, as is also basswood and 



rheslunl. 



CINCINNATI 



There is a sti-ady demand for all items on the 

 hardwood list with plain oak a leader. Quar- 

 tered oak is gradually getting into its former 

 position, and dealers in this wood are much 

 encouraged. Ash is very scarce and in big 

 demand. All low grades are called for daily, 

 and dealers are having trouble in finding sutfi- 

 cieut quantities to supply the tra'de. Chestnut 

 is doing very well, both upper and lower grades 

 being called for and bringing top prices. 



There is a strong tone to the jjoplar market 

 again. Low grades are in strong demand at top 

 prices and the good grades are picking up. 

 Wide stock also has been doing much better. 



All grades of cypress are going well : planing 

 mills are using No. 1 shop and better in large 

 quantities and the box factories are taking all 

 the low-grade stock they can get hold of and 

 paying good prices for it. Receipts are much 

 better than for some time and prices are holding 

 lirni. 



II;ird\\ood flooring is moving fast at good 

 prie.'s. 



.MI wood consuming factories in this section 

 are very busy, espe<-ially the furniture trade. 

 Box factories are having considerable trouble 

 in procuring enough stock to keep them busy. 

 The implement business is in good shape, and 

 carriage woodwork plants are doing a capacity 

 business. The automobile industry has been 



exceptionally good all season, and there is every 

 indication of a brisk winter in» this line. 



The late building season has kept the planing 

 mills busier than ever before. Favorable weather 

 conditions are responsible for continued activity 

 among the building contractors. Many buildings 

 are now under construction that were not ex- 

 pected to be started until next season, thus assur- 

 ing more work for millwork men and interior 

 finish people. 



TOLEDO 



Hardwoods continue in good demand with 

 prices stiff and supplies short. The car shortage 

 is seriously affecting deliveries from the South, 

 iu some instances mills being compelled to wait 

 as long as thirty days for a car. The demand 

 for lumber has kept up remarkably well, and it 

 is generally noted here that there has never 

 been a presidential election year when business 

 has been affected so little by the political situa- 

 tion. It seems to be the general opinion among 

 lumber dealers that there will not be much 

 tariff tinkering, and moreover the tariff changes 

 likely to he made will have the tendency to put 

 more money in the pockets of lumber dealers, 

 which no sane American business man is likely 

 to meet with objections. 



Red gum is in specially heavy demand, but is 

 hard to get. I'Mrst and seconds plain oak is 

 scarce, and quartered oak is quoted at an in- 

 creasing figure. Mahogany is strong in demand 

 and high in price. Ash is in good demand. The 

 local yards are running pretty low on stocks and 

 there is bound to be heavy buying around the 

 first of the year. The enormous demand which 

 lias been made for hardwoods of all kinds from 

 llie building trades is falling off a little, but the 

 factory demand is strong. 



INDIANAPOLIS 



.\lthough business is by no means rushing, 

 the hardwood trade is fairly active. There has 

 been no decreased activity in the last fortnight, 

 however. Many retail dealers are making in- 

 (|uiries as to prices and prospects of delivery, 

 and some few orders are coming in. Hardwood 

 prices are steady. 



Local hardwood wholesalers and manufacturers 

 appear to be getting suificient stock to meet 

 their needs, but some trouble is experienced in 

 getting it shipped out again. The coal fields 

 are making considerable demand for cars at this 

 time, and the Indiana corn crop will soon begin 

 to move. The car shortage situation appears 

 to be improving slightly, however, and it is 

 thought that this condition will be chaired up 

 within the next few weeks. 



MEMPHIS 



'I'lii- cju" sitiiatidu is oonsidri-t'tJ imn-h hcttcr 

 in this territory than it was a sluut limo ago. 

 and lumber is being moved with rather greater 

 (lispa'teh. At some interior points there is still 

 a scarcity of cars, and shipment of both lumber 

 and logs is delayed on this account. However, 

 it is conceded by practically all interests in thi' 

 trade that the railroads are giving a more satis 

 factory service and that lumber is moving with 

 greater regularity than a short time ago. Owing 

 to the fact that tlie hei;;ht of the cotton move* 

 mcnt has already passed, it is anticipated that 

 there will be further improvement in the move- 

 ment of traffic in the near future. 



Weather conditions throughout this section re- 

 lently have been very favorable for work in the 

 woods, and this has made excellent progress. 

 Thi' amount of timber being brought out is quite 

 bu'ae aufl tbe outlook is for an adntiuatc supply 

 of logs for the winter. Some of tbe firms in 

 this territory have quit logging operations and 

 will do nothing else in that line this season. 

 Tht're are others, however, and ihr latter are in 



tbe majority, who are still getting out timber and 

 who will continue this work as Ion* as it is pos- 

 sible to make satisfactory progress therewith. 



Practically every hardwood mill in the Mem- 

 phis territory is running on full time, and yet 

 there is no particular accumulation of lumber, 

 jiarticularly in shipping dry stock. Tbe volume 

 of business during the past few months has been 

 quite satisfactory, and while production has ma- 

 lei'ially increased, there has been likewise a 

 Nubstantial gain in shipments. There is no 

 accumulation of lumber in any direction, and, 

 on the other hand, there are some items which 

 are particularly scarce. 



One of the features of the box situation here 

 is the fact that there is a decided increase in 

 the amount of gum lumber being used in the 

 manufacture of standard packages. A prominent 

 manufacturer here said recently that he was 

 using about sixty per cent gum. as against forty 

 per cent cotton woqd. A year or two ago the 

 Ivgures were easily reversed. There is no doubt 

 that tl>e scarcity of Cottonwood and the high 

 prices therefor have had some Influence toward 

 increasing the use of gum. The growing popu- 

 larity of this wood, however, has been an im- 

 portant factor in this substitution. It is note- 

 worthy, however, that there is little or no gum 

 being used in the manufacture of cases used 

 for the storage of eggs. 



LOUISVILLE 



Tho demand for hardwoods continues brisk 

 and satisfactory, both as to extent and prices 

 olTered. Quotations an- strengthening in prac- 

 tically every line, and the man with a wide 

 range of stocks is bard put to it to tell which 

 items should be included among his "six best 

 sellers." The prospect of tariff revision is ap- 

 parently not affecting the optimistic feeling ex- 

 isting among consumers of hardwoods, and tbe 

 election of Mr. Wilson has not been regarded 

 as anything to worry alxuit. Manufacturing 

 interests in all directions are continuing to ex- 

 pand, instead of drawing in, and even tbe 

 peeved individuals wlio canceled orders "be- 

 cause of the flection" were so few in number. 

 as a matter of fact, as to l>e possessed of a 

 splendid isolation. Nobody with any btisincss 

 sense is insisting on cutting down the volume 

 of bis business just because the man he didn't 

 vote for got elected. As long as the present 

 sound foundation for bigger trade exists, there 

 is no reason to fear any retarding of the process 

 of developing trade ta a normal state as to 

 (piantity and profits. Oak c(mtinues to lead in 

 sales in this niarkei. plain oak lieing sold as fast 

 as offered, and ([uarlered oak being In good de- 

 mand. Quartered red is going up. buyers realiz- 

 ing that the difference l)etweeu the price of that 

 commodity and quartered while is greater than 

 is justified by a comparison of the intrinsic 

 values of the woods. Cood poplar, which has 

 been rather slow. Is improving materially, tbe 

 lower grades continuing to sell in large quan- 

 tity. Ash is a good mover, as are •j^xnn and cot 

 ton wood. 



ST. LOUIS 



J 



A reasonable volume of Imsiness is reported 

 by the various hxal hardwood dealers generally. 

 Were it not for the fact that their stocks have 

 been depleted by the calls that have been made 

 on them during the i»ast few weeks, the lijird- 

 wood dealers could do considerably more busi- 

 ness. The demand has been most unequally 

 divided. Tlie larger yards have had an excel- 

 lent trade and are well pleased with what they 

 have done, Imt the smaller yards are not as 

 satisfied with their business. Prices generally 

 are held firm, but many items, such as plain oak 

 and ash, command a heller iirice when they can 

 be obtained. 



The wi'allier has been most favorabh' for uei 



